Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Cunnington, a domestic groom, born 1864 in Oakham, Rutland and his wife Sarah Ann Cunnington (nee Spriggs), born 1870 in Bisbrooke, Rutland. Ernest was born in 1896 in Oakham, Rutland, his siblings were, Jane, born 1892, William, born 1894, Ralph, born 1898 and Walter, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Oakham, Rutland, in March 1901 the family home was at Cold Overton Road, Oakham, Rutland. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as an errand boy and was residing in the family home at Simper Street, Oakham, Rutland, together with his father now a school cleaner, his mother and siblings, Ralph, a stable boy, Alice, born 1903 in Corby, Lincs., Charles Edward, born 1908 and Ida Annie, born 1910, the latter two siblings were both born in Oakham, Rutland. On Friday June 1st 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS” – Tuesday’s list contained the following:- DIED OF WOUNDS. ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS. Cunnington, 50947 E. (Oakham). He embarked for France in November 1915, he was wounded by a shell on the 27th April 1917, and died in the early hours of the following morning. His Colonel wrote:- “He did his duty well and faithfully for two years, and was a general favourite with officers and men.”